Instant Analysis: Florida wins thriller, headed to Atlanta
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA | Holy moly.
In a hostile, heated matchup - keep in mind, Florida and LSU players got into a scuffle pre-game and needed to be separated by coaches - the No. 21 Gators (8-2, 6-2 SEC) earned Jim McElwain a signature victory with a 16-10 victory over No. 16 LSU (6-4, 4-3 SEC) on Saturday at Tiger Stadium that came down to the final play.
The win clinches the SEC East for Florida and sends the Gators to Atlanta for the second straight season in a title game matchup against No. 1 Alabama. It's also the first time in the McElwain era that the Gators have won on the road against a ranked opponent.
Instant Analysis now further examines the Gators' victory.
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* Updates: Jim McElwain's postgame press conference
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IT WAS OVER WHEN: After Florida drove into LSU territory on a 15-play, 70-yard drive that ended in a 26-yard Eddy Pineiro field goal, Tigers cornerback Donte Jackson fumbled on the kickoff return and the Gators recovered at the LSU 21. Florida then tacked on another field goal with 3:24 by Pineiro, this time from 34 yards out, to lift its lead to 16-10.
LSU managed to cross midfield on its ensuing drive, and had the Gators defense on its heels after Danny Etling completed a 30-yard pass to D.J. Chark. The Tigers offense kept the chains moving and eventually inched toward the red zone. However, the Gators managed to hold LSU short of the goal line on three straight rushes - and then stopped Derrius Guice short for no gain on 4th and goal to clinch the win as the Gators stormed the field in celebration.
THEY STOLE THE SHOW: Running back Jordan Scarlett and wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland were the standouts on offense for the Gators. Scarlett further proved why he's deserving of a role as a featured back for Florida, rushing for 108 yards on 22 carries. Meanwhile, Cleveland hauled in three catches for 124 yards and a touchdown - none more important than Cleveland's 98-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter to lift Florida to a 10-7 lead. On the defensive side of the ball, Caleb Brantley shined. The Gators defensive tackle recorded five tackles (including three TFL) and a forced fumble.
THIS STAT DOESN'T LIE: LSU made five trips to the red zone but scored only twice against Florida on Saturday. The Tigers won the time of possession battle 34:02-25:58 but managed to score only 10 points against the Gators.
WHAT A PLAY: After the Florida defense held LSU scoreless on a 10-play, 73-yard drive that ended in an incomplete pass by the Tigers on a trick play - aided by a touchdown-saving hit by Vosean Joseph and then a third-down TFL by Brantley - the Gators responded with their second-longest touchdown pass in school history. Appleby tossed a beautifully thrown ball downfield to Cleveland, who shed a tackle from LSU cornerback Donte Jackson in 1-on-1 coverage to take it down the right sideline for a 98-yard touchdown. The score lifted Florida to a 10-7 lead with 8:57 left in the third quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, Caleb Brantley helped make a key stop midway during the second quarter with the Tigers at Florida's 12-yard line. Getting good penetration through the middle, Brantley punched the ball out of Guice's hands on a carry to force a fumble that Florida linebacker Kylan Johnson recovered. The important defensive play by the Gators defensive tackle prevented LSU from scoring on an 11-play, 63-yard drive.
THESE MATCH-UPS PROVED KEY: Florida managed to find success in the run game with Scarlett and freshman Lamical Perine against the Tigers, who entered the matchup ranked third in the SEC in rushing defense - behind only Alabama and UF. Florida rode Scarlett and Perine for 65 rushing yards during its scoring drive late in the contest to give it a 13-10 lead. Both running backs combined for 146 yards on the ground on 29 carries against LSU's defense
Stay tuned with ITG, as we provide more post-game coverage of Florida's huge road victory.
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